2024-02-26-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2024 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: February 26, 2024 TOPIC: Ranch Properties Access Issues ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook. RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to engage Ranch Properties ownership discussing access issues for the 2024 camping season. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • The wooden bridge utilized by Ranch Properties does not meet Kittitas County fire access requirements. • The bridge has been embroiled in a dispute with a local land developer. • It appears that the property requires a conditional use permit for camping expansion that has occurred since 1972. • Community Development Services desires to enter into a voluntary compliance order with Ranch Properties. • A public roadway and bridge are proposed (land developer) supporting preliminary plat conditions as stipulated by the Board of County Commissioners. • Given the pending public road and bridge construction, Public Works (PW) could deploy our temporary bridge allowing Ranch Property access during this summer's camping season. • Deployment of our temporary bridge should be conditioned on a voluntary compliance order. • The option is to close access to the property for inadequate access owing to bridge load restrictions. If camping results in a fire, we could not respond. BACKGROUND: For years, Ranch Properties and a local land developer have been arguing over a wooden bridge crossing the main irrigation canal managed by Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD). A recent Superior Court order set aside Ranch Property's arguments concerning the bridge. DISCUSSION: It is too late in the year to begin construction of a new replacement bridge. The square- dancing community utilizes Ranch Property to hold events all summer long. Events have been occurring at the site for over forty years. We are at a crossroads. The unsafe Page 1 of 2 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2024